I want to preface this thread with I am 53 years old and have been about 70-80 pounds overweight for most of my adult life (after kids anyway).

I found out last year that my insurance would cover weight loss surgery, (some insurance does not!) I had the Gastric sleeve surgery last November. I have lost a little over 50 pounds. I am down to 189!!

I know that surgery may or may not be something you are interested in or something that your insurance would pay for.. it is very expensive!! I wish I could have had this opportunity to have the surgery years ago! I have gone years beating myself up because I would decide I was going to lose weight and then fail! or lose some and then gain it back. I'm sure you all know that feeling. I am now successful losing weight, and I am full and satisfied when I eat. I do not desire to me "skinny" but I would like to be at 170 lbs.. I am 5'8" so at 170 I would look pretty good... in my humble opinion of myself!!hehehe!!! If surgery is a possibility for you... please look into it.. It has changed my life.

I now ride my mare so much better, I can actually mount from the ground with out using a "cheating rock", my balance is much better and even though I haven't seen photos of myself yet, hubby says I look great, my legs don't look so fat.

I know surgery is not for everyone, but it was the perfect solution for me, I just wish I had done it at 30 instead of 50!!

Rhonda

LetAGrlShowU

02-28-2012 09:08 AM

congratulations you must feel GREAT!! I am worknig on loosing weight as well, and although surgery has crossed my mind, im not at that bridge yet. Conrgats!

afatgirlafathorse

02-28-2012 09:44 AM

Congrats!

I think I would technically qualify for surgery (or would have before I began my weight loss journey) but once I hit the marker of having lost 72lbs on my own sheer determination, I realized I don't need to take the additional risk.

Once I lost weight, I did find that things were a little easier on horseback HOWEVER, I was also building a lot of muscle and strength at the same time, so I can't say for certain that it was the actual loss of the pounds or the growth of the muscle and increase in cardio stamina that helped my riding more.

mls

02-28-2012 10:04 AM

Awesome!

Several people at the company I work for had weight loss surgery last fall. Our company has now changed policies and the new policy doesn't cover it any more. It's good that you were able to make use of the opportunity!

Golden Horse

02-28-2012 10:11 AM

Congratulations Rhondalyn, that is a great weight loss. I was researching weight loss surgery, but it is to expensive, and I was to scared, so I lost over 100 pounds using Medifast, losing was easy, keeping it off I failed at, big time.

I'm now trying to lose most of that weight again, and this time it will stick, I'm so looking forward to feeling really good on the back of a horse again

cakemom

02-28-2012 10:40 AM

Congrats!! I did the same, lost 200 lbs and dot regret my surgery or the 17 grand cash I paid for it a bit.
Keeping it off can still be just as hard though, so keep up your hard work.Posted via Mobile Device

RhondaLynn

02-28-2012 11:01 AM

Thank you everyone... I appreciate the comments!! I really didn't post this to brag at all! I posted this for those folks who have a hard time losing weight and keeping it off can realize there is an alternative.

Cakemom-I know about still having to watch about not puting the pounds back on. My sister in law about 7 years ago had the surgery for the "band" and lost 60 pounds really quick. She has since gain it and more back. The one thing that can happen is "grazing" or "slider foods". Where we who have had sugery eat all the time especially sweets or high calorie foods or eating foods that go thru your stomach quickly like milk shakes, chocolate for example.

I will still have to watch what I eat, but I normally ate good for me foods... my "PROBLEM" was I ate waaaaayyyy toooo much!! now, with a smaller stomach I cannot eat to much. I will still have to watch what I eat and how often I eat.

Rhonda

cakemom

02-28-2012 11:24 AM

Good thing for me is I can't have sugar, it makes me deathly ill, that's the side effect of bypass.Posted via Mobile Device

RhondaLynn

02-28-2012 11:30 AM

hi Cakemom-thankfully the sleeve does not do that to me, although some folks have that side effect sometimes. My problem was not the suger but the volumn. I am glad that when I do want something sweet I can still have it... although I don't crave sweets and when I do.. just one or two bites satisfies me!